Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND) Interactive

In this online interactive, learners will explore how scientists learn about the composition of an asteroid by studying energy and neutrons that emanate from it. Includes audio (and transcription) explaining the diagram.

What Causes a Solar Storm?

This is a tri-fold brochure about the solar storms known as coronal mass ejections. The text in this brochure addresses such topics as what a coronal mass ejection, or CME, is, how the Sun produces CMEs, how a CME behaves, when they happen and how we see them, and how CMEs affect Earth.

Length of the Day

In this activity, students measure the length of the day using the rotation of the Earth, and discover that the Sun is not exactly in the same place at the same clock time every day, understand that the changes are due to motions of the Earth, and lead to differences in solar, star, and sidereal

Introduction to Creating a Mission Plan

In this lesson, learners will become familiar with the layout of a mission plan. This is lesson 12 of 24 from the collection, Mars Activities, and should be done prior to lesson 13: Remote Vehicle Activity.

Leaners will grow a sugar crystal and learn how this relates to growing protein crystals in space. The lack of gravity allows scientists on the space station to grow big, almost perfect crystals, which are used to help design new medicines.

Life in Icy Places

This is a lesson about the field of astrobiology, the study of life in the universe, and ice as a preservative for evidence of life. Learners will consider the relationship between ice and life as they investigate the conditions required for life to exist and sustain itself.